Shock absorbing mechanism



Nov. 10, l1942. R. .LOLANDER SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 3l)1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 10, 1942. R, .1 OLANDER 2,301,443

sHoGK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed 001'.. 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Nov. l0, 1942 y 2,301,443

'unimo stares eerst-ir lorries SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANI-SM Roland J.Olander, Chicago, Ill., assignor to W. H.

Miner, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Delaware ApplicationOctober 31, 1940, Serial No. 363,594

12 Claims. (Cl. 213-24) This invention relates to improvements in Figure7 is a perspective view of the rear intershock absorbing mechanisms.mediate follower. Figure 8 is a perspective view One object of theinvention is to provide a of the rear casing of the mechanism. Figure 9shock absorbing `mechanism more particularly is a longitudinal verticalsectional view of the adapted for railway draft riggings having initial5- rear end portion of the rear casing partly broken spring capacity forabsorbing the lighter shocks, away and-illustrating another embodimentof the together with additional frictional resistance invention.combined with spring action to `absorb the In said drawings, lll-lindicate channelheavier shocks to which the draft rigging is subshapedcenter or draft sills of a railway car unjected. derframe to the innerfaces of which are secured Another object of the invention is to providefront and rear stop lugs Il-Il and |2-l2. The a friction devicecomprising a friction casing, a inner end portion of the drawbar isindicated friction clutch and spring resistance combined at I3, to whichis operatively secured a hooded with a spring device so arranged anddesigned yoke I4 of well-known construction. Within the that thefriction device becomes active only after 15. yoke are disposed theusual front and rear fola predetermined compression of the springdelowers I5 and I6 and the shock absorbing mechvice and is compressed intandem with the latter anism proper. The yoke and parts therewithinduring the remainder of the compression stroke are supported inoperative position by a detachof the .entire mechanism. able saddleplate ll and the shock absorbing lA further object of the invention isto provide mechanism is held properly centered between a combinedfriction and spring shock absorbing the sills by guide brackets l--lsecured to the mechanism having initial spring action followed innersides of said sills.

by combinedv frictional and spring resistance, Referring first to theembodiment of the inwherein the friction mechanism comprises a ventionillustrated in Figuresr 1 to 8 inclusive, the complete shock absorbingunit including a fricimproved shock absorbing mechanism proper, es tionclutch, a casing in which the clutch is slidshown, comprises broadly afront casing or colable `and spring means within the casing coopumnelement A; a rear casing or column element erating with the clutch, andthe spring mech- B; a front intermediate follower C; a rear inanismcomprises, a plurality of shock absorbing termediate follower D; afriction shell or casing springs, one of which yieldin'gly resistsbodily 30 E; a wedge bleek F; three fletOrl ShOeS movement of thefriction device during the initial G--G-G; a spring resistance H withinthe shell action of the mechanism to hold the friction de- E; a retainerbolt J a relatively heavy outer vice tightly against the cooperatingfollower of coil spring K; and a relatively lighter mlel Geil therigging. spring L.

Other objects of the invention will more clear- The two casings A4 and Bare preferably 0f 1y appear from the description and claimshereidentical construction. Each Of these CeJSIlgS, aS inafterfollowing. shown, comprises horizontally disposed top and In thedrawings forming a part of this speciiibottom walls Ztl-2! andvertically disposed side cation, Figure 1 is a horizontal longitudinalsec- Walls 2l`2l. The' fo-ur corners of each casing tional view of aportion of a railway draft rig- .f1-0 are Cut away, eS ShOWIl,llil'evdlilg Curved Cerner ging showing my improvements in connectionwalls 22-22 and longitudinally disposed reenforctherewith, the front andrear main followers of ing ribs at the junctions between the cornerwalls the rigging and the improved shock absorbing and the correspondingtop, bottom, and sidewalls. mechanism being shown in plan. Figure 2 is aThe two casings are reversely arranged end for longitudinal, verticalsectional View of the shock end, the outer ends of the two casingsbearing absorbing mechanism proper, corresponding subrespectively on thefront and rear followers l5 stantially to the line 2-2 of Figure 1.Figure 3 and I6 of the draft rigging. Each casing iS Open is a rear endelevational view of the mechanism at the cuter end, and has alongitudinal cylinshown in Figure 2,1ooking in the direction of thedrical opening or pocket 23 adapted to accommoarrows 3 3. Figure 4 is afront end elevational 5@ date either the fliCtOl gear 01 the Springe Kview of the mechanism shown in Figure 2, lookand L. At its inner end,that iS, the end I'emOte ing in the direction of the arrows 4 4. Figure5 from the main follower on which it bears, each is a perspective viewof the front casing of the casing is cut away or recessed at diagonallyshock absorbing mechanism. Figure 6 is a peropposite corners, asindicated at 24-24, providing spective view of the front intermediatefollower. i il a pair of longitudinally extending arms 25-25 at theinner end of each casing. As shown, the cut away portions includeslightly more than half of the corresponding top, bottom, and side wallsof the casing. The two arms 25 have concave inner surfaces which areoontinuations of the inner surface of the co-rresponding pocket 23. Eacharm also has a convex outer surface which is a continuation of the outersurface of the co-rresponding corner wall 22 and two flat outer surfaceswhich are continuations of the outer surfaces of the corresponding Wallsof the casing, the fiat surfaces of each arm being disposed at rightangles to each other. At the inner end of each cut away section 24 eachcasing is provided with a fiat transversely extending limiting stopshoulder 25 for a purpose hereinafter described. As will be evident,each casing forms a rigid column element for transmitting forces.

The front and rear intermediate followers C and D are of likeconstruction, except as hereinafter pointed out. Each intermediatefollower, as shown in Figures 6 and '7, is in the form of a relativelyheavy, substantially fiat platelike member of generally circular outlinehaving extensions 2li-2l at diametrically opposite sides thereof,corresponding in outline to the end faces of the corresponding arms25-25. Between the extensions 2l2l each plate is of circular outline,the diameter of the circular portion being slightly less than thediameter of the cylindrical opening of each casing A and B. Eachintermediate follower is slidably disposed between the arms 25-25 of thecorresponding casing, the extensions 2l- 2? being slidably disposed inthe openings 2li-24 with the circular edges fitting the concave innersurfaces of the two arms 25-25. The rear intermediate follower D, whichis slidingly disposed between the arms of the rear casing B, is providedwith a central opening 23 of circular outline, while the frontintermediate follower C is solid, that is, a continuous plate having nocentral opening. As shown in Figure 6, the intermediate follower C isprovided with transverse reenforcing ribs 29-29-29 having fiat end faceswhich provide a seat for the inner coil L of the spring means. Theopening 28 of the rear intermediate follower D is of such a size as tofreely accommodate the central coil L of the spring, which coil extendstherethrough.

The friction shell E is of generally hexagonal contour being closed atthe rear end by a transverse vertical wall 29.. The shell E is of such asize as to telescope loosely within the opening 23 of the casing A sothat it is freely movable lengthwise of said casing. The interior of theshell E is of hexagonal cross section and is inwardly tapered at itsopen front end, thus presenting six inwardly converging frictional facesarranged symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the shell andproviding three surfaces SG--SQ of V-shaped cross section.

The wedge block F has a flat outer end face 3l adapted to bear on thefront follower I5. At the inner end the block F is formed with threeflat wedge'faces 32--32--32 arranged symmetrically about thelongitudinal axis of the mechamsm.

The three friction shoes G-G--G are of similar design, each having anouter V-shaped friction surface 33 in sliding frictional engagement withone of the V-shaped friction surfaces 3Q of the shell, and a flat wedgeface 3e on an enlargement on the inner side thereof in wedgingengagement with one of the faces 32 of the wedge block. The innerenlargements of the shoes present transverse flat abutment faces attheir inner ends on which the spring resistance H is adapted to be-ar.

The spring resistance H comprises inner and outer coils having theiropposite ends bearing respectively on the shoes and rear wall of thefriction shell E.

The retainer bolt J holds the friction device assembled and of overalluniform length, having the head thereof, which is at the rear end of thesame, anchored in a hollow boss 35 extending inwardly from the rear wallof the friction shell and having the nut thereof, which is at the frontend, accommodated in an opening of the wedge block and adapted toshoulder on the rear wall of said opening.

The friction device or friction shock absorber operates in the usualmanner, the wedge being forced inwardly in compression to spread theshoes apart and force the same rearwardly against the resistance of thespring resistance H. High frictional resistance is thus created betweenthe shoes and the friction surfaces of the shell on which the shoesslide. When the actuating pressure is reduced, the spring resistance Hreturns the parts to the normal full release position shown in Figure 2.

The springs K and L are disposed within the rear casing B, the outercoil K being relatively heavy and bearing at its front and rear endsrespectively on the rear intermediate follower D and the rear mainfollower l5. The lighter inner coil L has its front and rear endsbearing respectively on the front intermediate follower C and the rearmain follower I6.

In assembling the shock absorbing mechanism the friction device,including the shell'E, wedge F, shoes G-G-G, and spring H is inserted inthe pocket of the casing A and the front intermediate follower C isassembled with this casing to slide between the arms 25-25 thereof withthe extensions .2- 2l working in the corresponding openings 2li- 24, andthe springs K and L are inserted in the pocket of the casing B and therear intermediate follower D is assembled with the last named casing toslide between the arms 25-25 thereof with the extensions 21-21 workingin the corresponding openings 24-24 and having the spring L extendingthrough the central opening of said rear intermediate spring follower D.

The two casings A and B with the parts therein are then assembled witheach other so that the two arms 25--25 of the front casing A will betelescoped and slide with respect to the two arms Z55-25 of the rearcasing B, as best illustrated in Figure 1. It will be evident that whenthe parts are thus assembled, the rear ends of the arms of the frontcasing will bear on the rear intermediate follower D. However, the frontends of the arms of the rear casing B will be held rearwardly spacedfrom the front intermediate follower C due to the spring L holding thisfollower against the rear end of the friction shell E of the frictionshock absorber, the friction shock absorber being of such an overalllength from the front face of the wedge block F to the rear end of theshell as to accomplish this result` As will be further seen uponreference to Figure 2, the front intermediate follower is heldrearwardly spaced from the stop shoulders 26-25 of the casing A.

The operation of my improved shock absorbing mechanism illustrated inFigures 1 to 8 inclusive vis as follows: Upon a draft or buffing forcebeing applied to the drawbar I3, the mechanism is compressed between thefront andrear followers I and I6 of the rigging, the rear follower I6being pulled forwardly by the yoke I4 as the drawbar is pulled outwardlyin draft, thereby'compressing the' mechanism against the front followerI5, which at'thi's time is held stationary by engagement with the frontstop lugs II-II 'against which it bears, and the front follower I5 beingforced rearwardly in buff by the drawbar as the latter is forcedinwardly, thereby compressing the mechanism against the rear followerI6, which at this time is held stationary by the rear stop lugs I2-l2. vY

' During compression of the mechanism the casings A and B which bearrespectively on the front and rear followers I5 and I6 are moved towardeach jother lengthwise of the mechanism. The rear intermediate followerD, which is engaged by the rear ends of the arms 25-25 of the frontfollower casing A, is thus moved rearwardly toward the rear casing B andthe rear follower I6, in buff, and thev front intermediate follower C,which bears on the friction shell E of the friction device, is movedrearwardly in unison with said friction device which is of greater shockabsorbing capacity than the spring L which opposes rearwardy movement ofsaid front intermediate follower. During draft actionA the rear casing Bis moved forwardly in unison with the rear main follower, while the rearintermediate follower D is kheld stationary by contact with the rearends of the arms 25-25 of the front casing A which bears on the frontfollower I5, which at this time is held stationary, and the frontintermediate follower is held stationary by `engagement with the rearend of the friction shell E of the friction device. Y

Thus, during the rst part of the compression stroke of the mechanism,lthe spring K is compressed between therear intermediate follower Dvandthe rear main follower I6, and the spring L is compressed between thefront intermediate follower C and the rear main follower V4I6. Thisaction continues until the clearance between the front vintermediatefollower C and the outer ends of the arms 25-25 of the rear casing Bhasbeen taken up, whereupon the friction device is positively compressedbetween the casing B and the front main follower I5. During thiscompression of the friction device, compression of the spring K iscontinued between the rear main follower I6 and the rear intermediatefollower D, the friction device and the spring K acting in tandem. Thistandem action continues until the end of the compression stroke of themechanism when further relative movement of the casings A and B isarrested by engagement of the front intermediate follower C with thestop shoulders 26-26 of the casing A and engagement of the rear inter`mediate follower with the stop shoulders 26-25 of the casing B. In thisconnection it is pointed out that engagement between the frontintermediate follower C and the stop shoulders 26-26 of the casing Aalso determines the limit of compression of the friction device.

When relative movement of the casings has been limited in the mannerdescribed, the force is transmitted from the front to the rear mainfollower through the front and rear casings A and B and the intermediatefollowers C and D,

which together act as a solid column load transmitting member, therebyrelieving the springs K and L andthe frictiondevice of Atheh shoclrab-lsorbing mechanismV from undue compression.-

When the actuating pressure -is reduced,'the springs K and L return thecasings A and B and the intermediate followers C and D to'normalposition, the parts of the friction device being'restored to normalposition by the "spring I-Iv, as is My improved mechanismV provides thedesired light vcushioning action to vabsorb the* lighter shocks to whichthe-draft rigging is subjected in service and also effectively takescare of all excessively heavy shocks, the lightershock'sbeing cushionedby the springs K and L only being compressed during predeterminedinitial action of the mechanism and the heavy shocks lbeing absorbed byjoint action of the spring means and the friction device, in tandem, asthe-mechanism is compressed to a greaterv extent.v f

Referring next-,to the embodimentof Vthe invention illustratedvin Figure9, the casings A and B hereinbefore described are modied by closing orpartly closing the ends of the same whichbear on the mainffollowers. InFigure `9 the rear portion of the casing B isillustrated in verticalsection. As shown in this figure, I the casing is closed at the rear endby a vertical endwa-ll and the springs K and L beardirec'tlyvon said endwall instead of bearing on the front face of the rear mainfollower I6 asis the casein the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFigures 1 to8 inclusive. The front Yend of the casing A may also be closed by an endwall similar to the wall 50 of the casing B. The view of the casing B inFigure 9 serves to fully illustrate this change of design of the casingA, inasmuch as the two casings A and B are of identical 'structure. A

I have herein shown and described what I now kconsider the preferredmanner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illus?trative, and I contemplate all changes and modi-v fications that comewithin the scope of the claims appended hereto.

`1. In 1a shock absorbingmechanism for railway draft riggings, thecombination with front and rear main followers 'relatively movabletoward'each `other lengthwiseof the mechanismj of front and rear casingsbearing respectively on said front and rear main followers; front andrear intermediate followers, said-front intermediatefollower beinglongitudinally movable with respect to said front casing and said rearintermediate follower being longitudinally movable with' respect to'said rear casing; a rearwardly projecting arml on said frontcasing-engaging said :.rear intermediate follower; a forwardlyprojecting arm on said rear follower casing engageable with said frontintermediate rfollower but normally spaced therefrom'to provide forinitial relative longitudinal movement between said frontintermediatefollowerr and rear casing; as hock absorbing device ,interposed betweensaid front main follower and front intermediate follower; "and springmeans interposed between said rear intermediate and rear main followers.

l2 In ashock absorbing mechanism for railwaydraftlrigging, thecombination with front and'rear mainfollowers relatively movable towardand away from each other lengthwise 'of the mechanism; offront and rearintermediate followers; a friction shock absorbing device interposedbetween and engaged by said front main 'and f front intermediatefollowers; vspring means interposed between and bearing on said rearintermediate and rear main followers; a column element transmitting theactuating force from said front main follower to said rear intermediatefollower; and a second column element interposed between said rear mainfollower and the front intermediate follower to transmit the actuatingforce from said rear main follower to said front intermediate followerafter a predetermined compression of said spring means, lost motionbeing provided between said last named column element and the frontintermediate follower to provide for relative movement therebetween topermit said predetermined compression prior to actuation of saidintermediate front follower.

3. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft rigging, thecombination with front and rear main followers relatively movable towardand away from each other; of front and rear intermediate followers;cushioning means interposed between said front main and frontintermediate followers; a second cushioning means interposed betweensaid rear main and rear intermediate followers, one of said cushioningmeans being a spring device and the other a friction device; and frontand rear column members bearing respectively on said front and rear mainfollowers, said front column member having arms extending rearwardlybeyond said front intermediate follower, said rear column member havingarms extending forwardly beyond said rear intermediate follower, thearms of one of said column members engaging the intermediate followerassociated with the spring device, and the arms of the other columnmember having their outer ends normally spaced from the intermediatefollower associated with the friction device, said last named arms beingengageable with the last named intermediate follower after apredetermined compression of said spring device to actuate said lastnamed intermediate follower.

4. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a main follower; of a second main follower, said mainfollowers being relatively movable toward and away from each other; afriction shock absorbing device bearing at one end on said first namedmain follower, said friction device including a friction Shell and acooperating spring resisted friction clutch; an intermediate followerbearing on the other end of said friction device; a column memberbearing on said first named main follower, and having arms extendingbeyond said intermediate follower; a second intermediate followerengaged by said arms; a spring resistance interposed between said secondnamed intermediate follower and the second named main follower; and asecond column member bearing on said second named main follower, saidsecond named column member having arms extending beyond the second namedintermediate follower and having their outer ends normally spaced fromsaid first named intermediate follower but adapted to engage the sameafter a predetermined preliminary action of the mechanism.

5. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a main follower; of a second main follower, said mainfollowers being relatively movable toward and away from each other; acolumn element bearing on said rst named main follower and having armsprojecting toward said second named main follower; a second columnelement bearing on said second named main follower and having armsprojecting toward said first named main follower, each of said columnmembers having stop shoulders inwardly ofthe arms thereof; anintermediate follower interposed between the outer lends of the arms ofsaid rst named column element and the stop shoulders of said secondnamed column element, said intermediate follower being engaged by saidarms and normally spacedfrom said shoulders; a second intermediatefollower interposed between the outer ends of the arms of said secondnamed column element and the stop shoulders of said first named columnelement, and normally spaced from said last named arms and shoulders; afriction shock absorbingdevice interposed between and bearingrespectively on said first named main follower and secondnamedintermediate follower; and spring means interposed between andbearing on said first named intermediate follower and second named mainfollower.

6. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a main follower; of a second main follower, said mainfollowers being relatively movable toward and away from each other acolumn member bearing at one end on said first named follower and havingarms at the other end extending toward said second named main follower;a second column member bearing at one end on said second named mainfollower and having arms at the other end extending toward said firstnamed main follower; a friction shock absorbing device bearing at oneend on said first named main follower; an intermediate follower bearingon the'other end of said friction device; a second intermediate followerbearing on the outer ends of the arms of said first named columnelement, said second named intermediate follower having an openingtherethrough; a spring extending through the opening of said secondnamed intermediate follower and bearing at one end on the first namedintermediate follower and at the other end on the second named mainfollower and normally yieldingly holding said first named intermediatefollower spaced from the outer ends of the arms of said second namedcolumn element; and a second spring interposed between and bearing onsaid second named intermediate follower and the second named mainfollower.

7 In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a main follower; of a second main follower, said mainfollowers being relatively movable toward and away from each other; acasing bearing on said first named follower; a second casing bearing onsaid second named main follower; an intermediate follower movablelengthwise within said first named casing; a second intermediatefollower movable lengthwise within the second named casing; an arm onsaid first named casing engaging said second named intermediatefollower; an arm on said second named casing engageable with said firstnamed intermediate follower but normally spaced therefrom to provide forinitial longitudinal movement between Said first named intermediatefollower and the second named casing; a friction shock absorbing deviceinterposed between said rst'named main follower and first namedintermediate follower; and spring means interposed between said secondnamed main follower and said second named intermediate follower.

8. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a casing; of a second casing, said casings beingmovable toward and away from each other lengthwise of the mechanism; anintermediate follower engaged by said rst named casing and movabletherewith; a second intermediate follower normally spaced from saidsecond named casing and adapted to be engaged thereby and actuatedafter` a predetermined compression of the mechanism; a friction shockabsorbing device adapted to be actuated by said second namedintermediate foll-ower; and a shock absorbing spring actuated by saidfirst named intermediate follower.

9. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a casing having a transverse end wall at its outer end;of a second casing having a transverse end wall at its outer end, eachof said casings having arms projecting toward the other casing, saidcasings being movable toward and away from each other lengthwise of themechanism; an intermediate follower engaged by the arms of said firstnamed casing; a second intermediate follower engageable by said arms ofthe second named casing after a predetermined compression of themechanism; a spring device within said second named casing bearing onsaid first named intermediate follower; and a friction shock absorberwithin said first named Casing bearing on said second named intermediatefollower.

10. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a column element arranged lengthwise of the mechanism;of a second column element opposed to said first named column elementand arranged lengthwise of the mechanism, said column elements havingarms extending lengthwise of the mechanism, said arms of each elementprojecting toward the other element and being in sliding engagement withthe arms of the latter, each column element having stop shouldersinwardly of the arms thereof; a follower interposed between the outerends of the arms of said rst named element and the stop shoulders ofsaid `second named element, said follower being engaged by said arms ofthe first named element and normally spaced from the shoulders of saidsecond named element; a second follower interposed between the outerends of the arms of said second named element and the stop shoulders ofsaid first named element and normally spaced from said arms of saidsecond named element and the shoulders of said first named element; aspring bearing on said first named follower and opposing movementthereof toward said second named element; a second spring extendingthrough said first named follower and bearing on said second namedfollower and opposing movement of the latter toward the second namedcolumn element; and a friction shock absorbing device of greater shockabsorbing capacity than said second named spring bearing on said secondnamed follower and opposing movement of the same toward said first namedcolumn element.

11. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a friction shock absorbing device; of a shock absorbingspring; a follower against which said friction shock absorbing devicebears; stop means from which said` follower is normally spaced; andmeans for compressing said spring and simultaneously moving saidfriction device and follower toward said stop means, thereby compressingthe spring only during initial action of the mechanism and until saidfollower is arrested by said stop means to effect compression of saidfriction device and spring in tandem during further actuation of themechanism.

12. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, thecombination with a friction shock absorbing device; of a spring; afollower bearing on the inner end of the friction device; a secondfollower bearing on the inner end of said spring; pressure transmittingmeans adapted to receive the actuating force and engaging said frictiondevice to actuate the same; column means extending from said pressuretransmitting means engaging the said second named follower to transmitthe actuating force thereto; and abutment means bearing on the outer endof said spring; and column means extending from said abutment means andnormally spaced from said first named follower and engageable with thelatter after a predetermined relative movement of said first namedfollower and column means to hold said rst named follower againstmovement toward said abutment means.

I ROLAND J. OLANDER.

